How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Dahlgren VA

How to Choose an Esthetician School near Dahlgren Virginia

Dahlgren VA esthetician client with cucumber facial Now that you have made a decision to enter the field of cosmetology and enroll in an esthetician school near Dahlgren VA, the process starts to locate and enroll in the right program. It’s essential that the program you choose not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a little bit further about that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Dahlgren residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when assessing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the right option. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are offered.

What is Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Dahlgren VA Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you take some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Dahlgren VA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a customer base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional names and work in a wide range of specializations including:

Estheticians
Hairdressers
Hairstylists
Beauticians
Barbers
Manicurists
Nail Technicians
Makeup Artists
Hair Coloring Specialists
Electrolysis Technicians

As already mentioned, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees

Dahlgren VA esthetician client with face mask There are essentially two pathways available to obtain esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you wish to specialize in just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also most likely include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Dahlgren VA business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you choose, it’s imperative to make certain that it’s certified by the Virginia Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming segment.

Online Esthetician Courses

woman attending esthetician school online in Dahlgren VA Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Dahlgren VA students who are working full time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of web-based beauty school programs offered that can be attended via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional beauty schools are often fast paced given that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you’re not devoting many hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. However, it’s essential that the program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Training Courses

Dahlgren VA models benefit from esthetic treatments Following is a series of questions that you should research for any esthetician training program you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Dahlgren residence, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make certain that the esthetician college you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 22448 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Dahlgren VA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each esthetician institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Dahlgren VA salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And last, consult the Virginia school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you enroll in a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your aspiration is to start a Dahlgren VA beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.

Is Enough Live Training Provided? Studying and refining esthetician techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that enable students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from an esthetician academy, it’s imperative that he or she gets support in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with Dahlgren VA businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? The majority of esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an option before you determine what financial aid may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Dahlgren VA?

Perhaps you live in the Dahlgren Virginia area, or have found a school that you will commute to or even relocate to attend. Either way, following is some interesting background information about the location of your new esthetician program.

Dahlgren, Virginia

Dahlgren is a census-designated place (CDP) in King George County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,655 at the 2010 census, a large increase from the 997 reported in 2000.[3] The community is located within the Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace American Viticultural Area winemaking appellation established by the United States government.

Since 1918, Dahlgren has been the site of a U.S. Naval base named for Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren. It was then the "U.S. Naval Proving Ground" but was renamed, after 1950, "U.S. Naval Weapons Laboratory", in 1974, the "Naval Surface Weapons Center","in 1987 the "Naval Surface Warfare Center", and around 1990, as the "U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD)". In 2006, it was renamed "Naval Support Activity-South Potomac (NSA-SP)", with NSWCDD becoming a tenant command of the base. The "U.S. Naval Space Surveillance Systems" command was located at that base, but that responsibility was transferred to the Air Force in 2004.[4] The AEGIS Training and Readiness Center is currently a tenant command at NSA-SP.

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 997 people, 456 households, and 260 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 885.2 people per square mile (340.7/km²). There were 510 housing units at an average density of 452.8/sq mi (174.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 70.31% White, 25.28% African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.50% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.71% of the population. As of the 2010 census[1] the population had more than doubled, although the makeup was largely the same, with whites edging down as a percentage from 70.31% to 61.4%, blacks up from 25.28% to 30.5%, %, Hispanics up from 1.71% to 4.1%, and those reporting mixed race up from 1.91% to 3.8%.

Pick the Right Esthetics Training Program near Dahlgren VA

Finding and enrolling in the right esthetician college is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to collect all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your new career as a professional esthetician in Dahlgren VA.